Chapter 26
CURTIS
Igot to the office early to avoid questions about where I’d disappeared to.
A temp from an external agency arrived at nine, along with Aunt Steph, who’d knocked on my door to introduce us.
Once the introductions were finished, the temp got to work, and Aunt Steph invited herself into my office.
I relaxed my bunched jaw muscles. She wouldn’t see any cracks in my confidence.
I was the CEO, and everyone around me needed to believe it.
Including me. As much as I had anger toward her for it, I knew she didn’t have much choice.
My father always got what he wanted, one way or the other, and Aunt Steph was his subordinate.
As her older brother, he’d bossed her around their whole lives.
I wished I couldn’t sympathize with her, but I could.
Aunt Steph sat in one of the guest chairs on the other side of my desk. I managed to refrain from moving to the window, staying in my chair.
I sat back and let her start.
“How are you? Margie and then Faith leaving, well, it’s not great timing.”
“No, it’s not. But what can you do?” I linked my hands, and rested them on my stomach.
I was a picture of relaxation. “How have you been? I know you had great hopes for Faith. Shame it didn’t work out.
Did she tell you why she was leaving?” Let her think I had no idea what the fuck was going on.
Thanks to Faith, I finally knew more than Aunt Steph and my father.
Who would’ve thought the coffee-spilling, donut-squishing disaster would become my sole valued ally?
I let the pleasure of that creep onto my face in a minuscule smile.
She wasn’t even here, and she was giving me support.
Aunt Steph picked invisible lint from her navy jacket, a small tell that she wasn’t comfortable.
“She didn’t say too much. I think swapping her to an assistant’s position was a mistake, but we needed someone, and I thought she was the best option.
” Ha, mistake or manipulation? She gave a small shrug. “What did she say to you?”
Hmm, the best option because other staff might have balked at betraying me?
I only just managed not to roll my eyes.
It was hard not to revert to teenage me, but I managed.
“Much of the same. She apologized for quitting. But what can you do? Anyway, I have enough to worry about with my job on the line, so I’d best get back to it.
” I took a sip of coffee from my takeout cup to hide any disappointment in my expression.
I wasn’t my father. I didn’t force loyalty from those around me. Respect should be earned.
Something genuine came to life in her eyes, or was this more manipulation?
“I’m glad you’re handling this well. I know your father can be…
well, you know. I don’t always agree with him.
” She stood. “Let me know if you need anything. For what it’s worth, I don’t want you to lose your job.
” I believed her, but it was too little too late.
Maybe I’d trust her again once this was all over, in time. For now, it was me and Faith.
“Thanks. I appreciate it.” The silence that followed as she waited for me to say something else was more awkward than the time I’d had to tell an employee his hygiene was killing morale.
“Okay, well, my door is always open. So, I’ll see you at your parents’ this weekend?”
“No. I have a couple of things planned with friends, and to be honest, I’ve seen enough of my father for one week.
” I managed not to smile at the thought of spending the whole weekend with Faith.
Last night, we’d worked until eleven and gotten more done than I thought we would.
I dropped her home afterward. As much as I wanted to throw her on my bed and make her come ten more times, I didn’t want her to think I was taking advantage.
Today was Thursday, so we had plenty of time to build up to the weekend.
Hopefully the more she got to know me, the more she’d trust me.
“Right, that’s understandable.” She made her way to the door, turning to me just before she opened it. “Good luck, Curtis.”
I gave her a nod. The more she tried to be nice after the fact, the more irritating it became.
Finally, she left. She would take my lack of enthusiasm for our conversation on the fact that I was stressed—because I was—not because I was angry with her for her part in my father’s shitshow.
The fact that they could question my loyalty or think I would try and manipulate a woman into sleeping with me…
. I took a deep breath, cutting off that thought because it would get me nowhere.
I had a meeting with the accounts department, and then I was free to pick up Faith and take her home… to work. Yeah, just to work.
Ah, the lies we told ourselves.